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Natural Gas Pipeline FAQs

Answers to Your Natural Gas Pipeline Questions.

The following are answers to questions that residents along Spectra Energy natural gas pipelines have asked in the U.S. and Canada. Select a category below to view residents' frequently asked questions.

In Canada (British Columbia)

Alternatively, if you want to do work on or around the pipeline, call Pipeline Crossings & Permit Information at 866-262-3654.

One Call Service in Canada

If you do not wish to speak to a Spectra Energy representative, you can easily get information through a one call centre in Canada. If you are planning to disturb the ground, you can contact the following:

The pipeline company has thousands of easements that have been prepared over several decades so not all easements read the same. In the U.S., you can acquire a copy of your easement from your county/parish office of records to see the specific terms of your easement. In Canada, you can acquire a copy of your easement from your local land titles office or government agent.

Generally, no buildings or trees are allowed within the right of way but roads and sidewalks are usually allowed to cross the right of way. Shrubs and bushes less than four feet in height are allowed within the pipeline right-of-way, but Spectra Energy does not normally pay for damages to such landscaping if they are damaged during maintenance or construction activities. Seasonal crops may be planted over the company's pipelines. (See below for more information about crops.)

In the U.S., trees are not normally allowed within the pipeline right-of-way. Trees can limit the ability of the company to access the pipeline for operation and maintenance.

The pipeline company routinely mows the right-of-way for better access to the pipeline so its location is more clearly identifiable to anyone performing activities such as excavation that could damage the pipeline. Additionally, a clear right-of-way makes patrolling for encroachments and excavation activities more effective.

In Canada, certain trees are allowed in the right-of-way as specified in landowner letters of commitment.

Seasonal crops may be planted over the company's pipelines. Before planting and tending to crops, you should inquire about the depth of cover on the right-of-way to ensure you do not damage the pipeline. The company does not normally damage crops by mowing or cutting. However, there are infrequent occasions where timely maintenance will require the company to remove the crops, in which case the company will pay the crop owner for damages.

Generally, pipeline easements remain in effect as long as the pipeline contains natural gas for transport and/or the company maintains the right of way. Not all easements are the same, so you may want to acquire a copy of your easement from your county/parish office of records in the U.S., or your local land titles office or government agent in Canada to see the specific terms of your easement.

Burning anything within the pipeline right of way could impact the integrity of the pipeline facilities. You should advise your neighbor that burning any material at this location is not appropriate. If they do not heed your warning, contact the pipeline company by calling one of the numbers on the marker posts at the nearest pipeline road crossing or the appropriate number in our Emergency Contacts. Regardless of why there is burning occurring on the right of way, contact the pipeline company immediately.

Spectra Energy does not approve of the use of the pipeline right of way as a vehicular trail. Such vehicles mentioned in the question have done damage to the pipeline cover and in some instances have damaged the pipeline itself. When drivers have not advised the pipeline company of their intent to use the right of way, the company must assume a security threat has occurred.

If pipeline personnel plan to come on property that they do not frequently enter, they will normally attempt to contact the landowners/residents prior to entering the property and advise them of the nature of the visit.

In many instances where pipeline personnel frequently enter the property for any of various purposes, the pipeline personnel will often establish an agreement with the landowners/residents as to whether resident notification is required prior to entering the property each time.

Spectra Energy constantly checks the pressure at thousands of points along our pipeline system. When pressures approach maximum acceptable levels, operators in the gas control center are alerted by electronic pressure transmitters so that appropriate action may be taken. Personnel conduct maintenance on the remote transmitters of pressure information all along the pipeline system at a predetermined frequency (or sooner if there appears to be a malfunction).

As natural gas flows through a pipeline, the pipeline pressure will decrease due to friction and elevation differences. To maintain pipeline flow and pressure, a pipeline company must install compressors along the pipeline to mechanically re-pressure the natural gas so it may continue to flow to the end user. Compressor stations are typically installed at intervals of 30 to 70 miles (approximately 48 to 112 kms) along the pipeline.

With proper diligent maintenance and constantly improving operation and maintenance technology, pipelines made of steel can sustain their usefulness for an indefinite period. There are many pipelines in the U.S. and Canada that have operated safely for many decades and should be able to continue operating safely for the foreseeable future.

The top of natural gas pipelines are at least 30 inches (76 cm) below the ground's surface when installed. The pipe has a coating which protects the steel from corrosion. In addition, cathodic protection systems are installed at various locations to prevent corrosion on the pipeline by a applying small amount of direct current. This direct current is maintained at a very low level that will not harm people or animals in the vicinity of the pipeline.

To verify our pipelines are not corroding, we routinely inspect our pipelines using In-Line Inspection (ILI) Tools, or "smart pigs", that are able to identify pipeline defects such as corrosion, metal loss, dents, gouges, etc. that could affect the integrity of the pipeline. When any pipeline defect is discovered, that segment of pipe containing the defect is repaired or replaced.

In the U.S., the pipeline company routinely runs smart pigs at a predetermined interval in compliance with U.S. DOT regulations. The smart pigs are able to discover pipeline defects such as corrosion, metal loss, dents, gouges, etc. that could affect the integrity of the pipeline. When pipeline defects that could affect the integrity of the pipeline are discovered, that segment of pipe containing the pipeline defect is repaired or replaced.

Spectra Energy was involved in the development of in-line inspection technology in the 1960s and was one of the first pipeline operator to employ it. We have tens of thousands of miles of experience in running the tool and analyzing the results.

Some natural gas pipelines have an odorant added known as mercaptan which has a smell resembling that of rotten eggs. Local distribution companies typically add this odorant so their customers can detect the presence of natural gas in the air.

Spectra Energy is an interstate natural gas transmission pipeline company in the U.S. and not a local distribution company. Thus many of our pipelines are not odorized.

If a leak were to occur in a pipeline that does not have mercaptan, a person might still detect a faint smell of hydrocarbons (propane and butane are other examples of hydrocarbons), not rotten eggs, even though natural gas is considered odorless.

Distance from a pipeline, soil type, blast intensity, and blast frequency all must be considered to determine if the blasting will create a safety concern for a pipeline. If you know of any planned blasting or any blasting has occurred in the vicinity of one our pipelines, please contact Spectra Energy toll free at 888-293-7867 so we may conduct the technical evaluation of the blasting's impact on the pipeline.

Spectra Energy's practice is to advise nearby residents before we conduct a scheduled activity that might result in extended noise or other type of disturbance. Regrettably, and at times unavoidably, the company is unable to notify everyone of such an event. On rare occasions, there may be unscheduled gas releases where prior notification to residents is not feasible.

If you discover any of our pipeline markers are missing or have been destroyed, contact Spectra Energy at 888-293-7867. It is a violation of federal law subject to a fine of up to $5,000 and/or a term of up to one year imprisonment for any willful destruction or removal of pipeline signs or markers in the U.S. (re: 49 CFR 190.229.d).

In many areas it is easy to distinguish where pipelines are because a cleared corridor known as a right-of-way is where pipelines will be located. Within the right-of-way are pipeline marker posts that should be easily seen, one for each pipeline in that right-of-way. These pipelines generally lay parallel to one another but there are exceptions.

Pipeline marker posts are located as near directly over the pipelines as practical. Among the many locations these pipeline marker posts will be found is at pipeline road crossings usually on both sides of the road.

If any digging or other type earth disturbance is planned, call the company's phone number on the pipeline markers and contact your state one-call center at the number listed at www.digsafe.com. Spectra Energy will mark the location of our pipeline and we plan to be present whenever there is excavation near our pipeline.

Report any pipeline leaks to 911. If you know the leak is on one of our pipelines, you should also report the leak to us by calling the phone number on the pipeline marker post or pipeline sign. Click here for a list of our Emergency Contacts.

Spectra Energy emphasizes you should not attempt to operate any valves or other pipeline devices on our pipeline system. Only qualified company personnel should conduct these activities. Improper operation of our pipeline devices could cause the situation to become more serious.

Furthermore, the valves and/or the gate for the fences in which the valves are located are locked for the public's safety and to avoid unauthorized operation of the facilities.

Spectra Energy continuously monitors operating pressure at thousands of locations along the pipeline and will often be aware of a pipeline event before receiving any calls. Technical experts and control center operators are evaluating and analyzing the data they are receiving and dispatching personnel to the site of the event and other strategic locations.

The pipeline company is responding to a pipeline emergency as soon it knows the event is occurring, in many cases before receiving any calls to the emergency number. Reporting pipeline events to the emergency phone number can assist the company to know the exact location of the event to allow the company to quickly respond to an emergency.

Remote action may be possible to diffuse the event with reliable on site information from local officials and/or qualified company personnel. Qualified company personnel reporting to the site of an event live and work in the area daily and depending on traffic and weather conditions would be at the site from a matter of minutes up to an hour. Once on site, company personnel can isolate the pipeline segment in a few minutes.

Our pipeline company, along with others, meet with emergency response officials every 1 to 3 years to discuss the proper response to a natural gas pipeline emergency. Spectra Energy has extended invitations to emergency response officials to conduct emergency drills and the emergency response officials have on occasion invited our company to participate in emergency drills.

If your local emergency response officials would like to collaborate in an emergency drill or attend the emergency response meetings please contact Spectra Energy at 888-293-7867.

Spectra Energy personnel carry company ID badges which can be provided upon request, but do not wear them. Our company personnel wear Spectra Energy hard hats and drive a company vehicle with the company name and symbol.

Our maintenance trucks have signs on the doors with the company name, usually the name of the parent company (Spectra Energy). Other company automobiles do not generally have signs but are painted white.

Spectra Energy personnel generally conduct routine operations and maintenance activities during daylight hours Monday through Friday. However, there are some activities that require immediate attention which may require the company personnel to be in your neighborhood during the night, weekends and/or holidays.

Patrol planes are single engine airplanes that have the words 'pipeline patrol' painted on the bottom of the wings. The planes are flying at about 1,000 feet above the ground along the path of the pipeline right-of-way.

The pipeline patrol pilot is looking for indications of natural gas leaks, construction near the pipeline, soil movement, indications of soil erosion and other factors that might affect public safety and pipeline operations.

Spectra Energy does not provide local gas services, but we do deliver natural gas to local gas distribution companies that do. Local distribution companies determine whether or not local gas service will be provided in a given location.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and their state and local agents provide regulation for the safe transportation of natural gas through pipelines.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the state environmental protection agencies provide regulations for protection of the environment during the construction and operation of pipeline facilities.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides regulation for the safe working place for our personnel.

The U.S. Department of Interior Minerals Management Service (MMS) provides regulation for offshore pipeline easement leases

Spectra Energy does own property in hundreds of locations in 30 U.S. states, 7 Canadian provinces, and 2 Canadian territories and pays property taxes for those locations. The company pays substantial ad valorem taxes on the pipelines that lie within the right-of-way but not for the right-of-way property.

In the U.S., the company pays an operational fee to the U.S. DOT which comes to about $308.55 per mile (we operate about 12,700 miles of pipeline in the U.S.). In both the U.S. and in Canada, Spectra Energy also pays income taxes and numerous other taxes and fees.

If any digging or other type earth disturbance is planned, contact your state one-call center at the number listed at Call811. If the activity is in the vicinity of our pipelines we will mark where our pipelines are and we plan to be present when you or anyone else is digging near our pipelines.

Video Title

Enbridge and Spectra Energy Complete Merger

We are now Enbridge!

On February 27, 2017, Enbridge Inc. and Spectra Energy Corp closed their merger transaction. This transaction has created a global energy infrastructure leader—with an enterprise value of approximately US$126 billion (C$166 billion)—that brings together the best liquids and natural gas franchises in North America.

The combined company is known as Enbridge Inc. You’re currently viewing Spectra Energy’s legacy website, where you’ll find information on the former Spectra Energy Corp.

For current and accurate information on Enbridge, which now includes Spectra Energy Corp, please visit enbridge.com.